Editorial: Appalling behavior by Christie aides can't b e ignored

The Issue: Emails show aides to the New Jersey governor plotting a traffic jam as revenge on political rivals. Our Opinion: This incredible display of stupidity and insensitivity does not reflect well on the presidential hopeful.

Traffic jams on the George Washington Bridge normally wouldn't be of any concern to folks outside New York and New Jersey.

Even allegations that there were political overtones to a decision that choked traffic for days in Fort Lee, N.J., didn't create much of a stir outside the Garden State.

But the recent revelations of shocking emails regarding the matter have turned this into a story of national concern and raised questions about New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's once seemingly high presidential hopes.

According to The Associated Press, the emails and text messages suggest that one of Christie's top aides engineered traffic jams in Fort Lee last September to punish its Democratic mayor, who refused to endorse the Republican governor.

The brazen and incredibly stupid nature of the emails defies comprehension.

"Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee," Christie Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Anne Kelly wrote in August in a message to David Wildstein, a top Christie appointee on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which is in charge of the George Washington Bridge. A few weeks later, Wildstein closed two of three lanes connecting Fort Lee to the span, which runs between New Jersey and New York City.

The lane closures were done under the pretense of a traffic study, but the emails appear to make it clear the true intent was to show local officials who is boss in New Jersey.

We are not so naive as to believe that this sort of thing is rare. Abuse of power for the sake of wielding political clout is an age-old problem, and it would be an understatement to say that New Jersey has seen worse forms of official corruption.

But it's impossible to ignore such powerful evidence of incredible insensitivity as is shown in those emails. In one exchange an official expresses concern about whether the traffic problems would affect children getting to school. A Christie aide replied that they were the children of people who would vote for the governor's Democratic rival.

It's worth remembering that a traffic jam, especially on a key artery such as the George Washington Bridge, can be more than just an inconvenience. Some media outlets are reporting that people may have died due to the failure of emergency responders to get them to hospitals in time.

It remains to be seen whether the governor had direct knowledge of what was going on. He vehemently denies it. What we do know is that until the emails were released he continually dismissed the matter as unimportant and accused those of bringing it up of trying to derail his national political aspirations. He only changed his tune when it became obvious something very wrong was going on among his aides.

We don't wish political failure on Christie, who has made admirable displays of bipartisanship, especially in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Voices such as his need to be heard in the Republican Party. But even in the most charitable interpretation of his case, clearly his unfortunate tendency for bullying has extended to members of his staff.

None of this had to happen. Christie had no fear of losing his re-election bid, and there was little reason to doubt his authority in New Jersey.

But people in power never seem to learn the lessons that have tripped up so many over the years. Power must be wielded judiciously. Even a seemingly minor abuse of it can lead to disaster. After all, a third-rate burglary brought down a White House.